Newton players ready to step up in Shorter's absence

David Berr, Beaumont Enterprise

By David Berry

Published 9:28 am, Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Newtonâs Brandon Johnson (No. 25) escapes a tackle during the 43-24 win over East Chambers last Friday at Buccaneer Stadium in Winnie, TX. The senior rushed for 294 yards and three touchdowns on 15 carries, as Kevin Shorter was carted off the field with an injury in the second quarter.
(Matt Billiot / Special to the Enterprise)
Photo: Matt Billiot

Newtonâs Jace Thomas, No. 32, rushes during the 43-24 win over East Chambers Friday at Buccaneer Stadium in Winnie, TX. (Matt Billiot / Special to the Enterprise)9: during the 43-24 win over East Chambers Friday at Buccaneer Stadium in Winnie, TX. (Matt Billiot / Special to the Enterprise)
Photo: Matt Billiot

There was just over two minutes left in the first half of Newton's District 10-2A-DI game at East Chambers last Friday and the Eagles were looking at the most adversity they had faced since their 39-22 state semifinal loss to Cameron Yoe in December of 2012.

An East Chambers field goal gave the Bucs a 17-15 lead.

A Newton fumble early in the game gave East Chambers a short field to score.

And now running back Kevin Shorter, a Texas commit, lay on the Buccaneer Stadium grass for several minutes, not moving.

In a strange way, Newton head coach W.T. Johnston wanted the game to play out this way, save the Shorter injury.

"I think it's exactly what we needed," Johnston said. "That's the toughest game we've played in the last two years. I knew it was going to be that way. Some of our kids had to step up because (Shorter) got hurt early. That was really good. I told some of the guys that I have a lot more confidence in them than they have in themselves."

The player that stepped up the most for No. 1 Newton (6-0, 3-0 10-2A-DI) was running back Brandon Johnson. The senior ran for 294 yards and three touchdowns on 15 carries. Two of the Johnson's touchdowns were more than 90 yards each.

"Somebody had to step up since he got hurt," Johnson said about the Shorter injury. "He is one of our main players. Somebody had to take his spot on the offense."

Johnson, who dealt with cramps during and after the game, is considered the second back in Newton's Slot-T offense but has run for a team-high 830 yards and nine touchdowns so far this season. According to Johnston, Johnson, who is listed at 195 pounds on Newton's MaxPreps roster, can bench 400 and squat 600 pounds.

"His new name is the horse," Johnston said about Johnson jokingly. "He was tired and cramping, but that's a credit to him, he stepped up and played."

Johnston also credited junior running back Calum Foster, who has been playing the last few weeks with a hurt shoulder. Foster is third on the team in rushing with 245 yards and four touchdowns.

Shorter, who was taken off the field on a stretcher, tweeted the Saturday after the game that he will miss four weeks after suffering a mild concussion and bruised spinal cord, likely ending his regular season. If Newton wins the district championship, they would have a bye week in the bidistrict round of the playoffs, giving Shorter another week to rest.

Johnson believes that he and his teammates are ready to handle the load since Shorter has to miss time. Newton's next game is this Friday when they host Kountze (5-1, 3-0 District 10-2A-DI).

"We know how to come together as one," Johnson said. "And play as a team."